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03-27-2014, 09:14 PM
Four British people catch TB from CATS in Home Counties in first known cases of feline-human transmission: Nine pets who have disease all treated at vets in Newbury
Two people have been diagnosed with active TB while two have latent TB
All four are thought to have contracted the infection from pet cats
Nine cats in Hampshire and Berkshire were investigated for TB infection
All the pets were taken to the same veterinary surgery in Newbury
Experts unclear how the animals contracted the disease
Bacteria can spread to humans if it is breathed in, enters a cut or is ingested
By EMMA INNES
PUBLISHED: 13:04 GMT, 27 March 2014 | UPDATED: 20:16 GMT, 27 March 2014
Two people have developed tuberculosis (TB) and two more have latent TB after contact with a cat, experts have revealed.
The cases are the first ever recorded of cat-to-human TB transmission in the UK.
Nine pet cats have been investigated for TB infection in Hampshire and Berkshire - all nine were taken to the same veterinary surgery in Newbury, Berks.
Public Health England (PHE) says the people developed tuberculosis after contact with a domestic cat infected with Mycobacterium bovis.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/27/article-2590699-1C9DF03700000578-534_634x315.jpg
The two with the active infection are said to be responding well to treatment, while the other two didn't need medical attention.
PHE insists that the risk of TB transmission from cats to humans remains ‘very low.’
The Mycobacterium bovis bacteria cause TB in cattle (known as bovine TB) and in other animals.
Nine cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection in domestic cats in Berkshire and Hampshire were investigated by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and PHE last year.
PHE said it had offered TB screening to 39 people identified as having had contact with the nine infected cats.
Of these, 24 people accepted screening. Two were found to have active TB and there were two cases of latent TB, which means they had been exposed to TB at some point but did not have an active infection.
Both people with active TB disease have confirmed infection with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).
PHE said there have been no further cases of TB in cats reported in Berkshire or Hampshire since March 2013.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/27/article-2590699-1C9DF12300000578-494_634x286.jpg
The infections are the first ever recorded cases of cat-to-human tuberculosis transmission in the UK. Image shows the bacteria that causes TB
Analysis of the samples of active TB from the humans and the infected cats by the AHVLA showed the M. bovis was ‘indistinguishable’.
This ‘indicates transmission of the bacterium from an infected cat’, PHE said.
In the cases of latent TB infection, it was not possible to confirm if they were caused by M. bovis.
Dr Dilys Morgan, head of gastrointestinal, emerging and zoonotic diseases department at PHE, said: ‘It’s important to remember that this was a very unusual cluster of TB in domestic cats. “M. bovis” is still uncommon in cats - it mainly affects livestock animals.
‘These are the first documented cases of cat-to-human transmission, and so although PHE has assessed the risk of people catching this infection from infected cats as being very low, we are recommending that household and close contacts of cats with confirmed “M. bovis” infection should be assessed and receive public health advice.’
WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS?
TB is a bacterial infection that is usually spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
It can be serious but can also be cured with proper treatment.
It causes symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever, tiredness and loss of appetite.
TB is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The condition usually only spreads through prolonged exposure to someone with the illness.
TB is treated with a course of antibiotics - usually a patient has to take the antibiotics for six months.
In most cases, this results in a complete cure.
TB was very common in the UK before antibiotics were introduced.
Now, it is much less common but the number of cases has increased gradually in the last 20 years.
Source: NHS Choices
Professor Noel Smith, head of the bovine TB genotyping group at AHVLA, added: ‘Testing of nearby herds revealed a small number of infected cattle with the same strain of M. bovis as the cats.
‘However, direct contact of the cats with these cattle was unlikely considering their roaming ranges. The most likely source of infection is infected wildlife, but cat-to-cat transmission cannot be ruled out.’
Cattle herds with confirmed cases of bovine TB in the area have all been placed under movement restrictions to prevent the spread of disease.
Figures show that TB caused by M. bovis is diagnosed in fewer than 40 people in the UK each year.
The majority of cases are in the over-65s, most likely due to a latent infection acquired years earlier becoming active again.
The bacteria can be spread to humans from animals if it is breathed in, enters a cut in the skin, or is ingested.
British Veterinary Association President Robin Hargreaves said: 'A cluster of cases such as this is very rare but the public health risk to owners and veterinary staff is of concern.
'TB can affect different parts of the body which is why symptoms have varied significantly in confirmed cases.
'Your veterinary surgeon is best placed to assess the likelihood of TB being responsible for your cat’s illness. If you are concerned that your cat is unwell or has unusual lesions please consult your vet as soon as possible.
'Vets dealing with cats, particularly those in areas where TB is endemic, should consider the diagnosis if presented with animals exhibiting the signs described in the paper and in the information provided by Defra.'
Defra's Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, added: 'This unusual case illustrates why it is important that private vets remain vigilant to possible signs of TB in cats.
'In the event of a positive case, owners need to be fully informed of the risks to human health when deciding whether treatment is an appropriate course.'
TB is a bacterial infection that is usually spread through inhaling tiny droplets form the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
It can be serious but can also be cured with proper treatment.
It causes symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever, tiredness and loss of appetite.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2590699/Two-British-people-contract-tuberculosis-contact-cat-recorded-cases-cat-human-transmission.html#ixzz2xCSLdgZe
Two people have been diagnosed with active TB while two have latent TB
All four are thought to have contracted the infection from pet cats
Nine cats in Hampshire and Berkshire were investigated for TB infection
All the pets were taken to the same veterinary surgery in Newbury
Experts unclear how the animals contracted the disease
Bacteria can spread to humans if it is breathed in, enters a cut or is ingested
By EMMA INNES
PUBLISHED: 13:04 GMT, 27 March 2014 | UPDATED: 20:16 GMT, 27 March 2014
Two people have developed tuberculosis (TB) and two more have latent TB after contact with a cat, experts have revealed.
The cases are the first ever recorded of cat-to-human TB transmission in the UK.
Nine pet cats have been investigated for TB infection in Hampshire and Berkshire - all nine were taken to the same veterinary surgery in Newbury, Berks.
Public Health England (PHE) says the people developed tuberculosis after contact with a domestic cat infected with Mycobacterium bovis.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/27/article-2590699-1C9DF03700000578-534_634x315.jpg
The two with the active infection are said to be responding well to treatment, while the other two didn't need medical attention.
PHE insists that the risk of TB transmission from cats to humans remains ‘very low.’
The Mycobacterium bovis bacteria cause TB in cattle (known as bovine TB) and in other animals.
Nine cases of Mycobacterium bovis infection in domestic cats in Berkshire and Hampshire were investigated by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) and PHE last year.
PHE said it had offered TB screening to 39 people identified as having had contact with the nine infected cats.
Of these, 24 people accepted screening. Two were found to have active TB and there were two cases of latent TB, which means they had been exposed to TB at some point but did not have an active infection.
Both people with active TB disease have confirmed infection with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).
PHE said there have been no further cases of TB in cats reported in Berkshire or Hampshire since March 2013.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/03/27/article-2590699-1C9DF12300000578-494_634x286.jpg
The infections are the first ever recorded cases of cat-to-human tuberculosis transmission in the UK. Image shows the bacteria that causes TB
Analysis of the samples of active TB from the humans and the infected cats by the AHVLA showed the M. bovis was ‘indistinguishable’.
This ‘indicates transmission of the bacterium from an infected cat’, PHE said.
In the cases of latent TB infection, it was not possible to confirm if they were caused by M. bovis.
Dr Dilys Morgan, head of gastrointestinal, emerging and zoonotic diseases department at PHE, said: ‘It’s important to remember that this was a very unusual cluster of TB in domestic cats. “M. bovis” is still uncommon in cats - it mainly affects livestock animals.
‘These are the first documented cases of cat-to-human transmission, and so although PHE has assessed the risk of people catching this infection from infected cats as being very low, we are recommending that household and close contacts of cats with confirmed “M. bovis” infection should be assessed and receive public health advice.’
WHAT IS TUBERCULOSIS?
TB is a bacterial infection that is usually spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
It can be serious but can also be cured with proper treatment.
It causes symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever, tiredness and loss of appetite.
TB is caused by a bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The condition usually only spreads through prolonged exposure to someone with the illness.
TB is treated with a course of antibiotics - usually a patient has to take the antibiotics for six months.
In most cases, this results in a complete cure.
TB was very common in the UK before antibiotics were introduced.
Now, it is much less common but the number of cases has increased gradually in the last 20 years.
Source: NHS Choices
Professor Noel Smith, head of the bovine TB genotyping group at AHVLA, added: ‘Testing of nearby herds revealed a small number of infected cattle with the same strain of M. bovis as the cats.
‘However, direct contact of the cats with these cattle was unlikely considering their roaming ranges. The most likely source of infection is infected wildlife, but cat-to-cat transmission cannot be ruled out.’
Cattle herds with confirmed cases of bovine TB in the area have all been placed under movement restrictions to prevent the spread of disease.
Figures show that TB caused by M. bovis is diagnosed in fewer than 40 people in the UK each year.
The majority of cases are in the over-65s, most likely due to a latent infection acquired years earlier becoming active again.
The bacteria can be spread to humans from animals if it is breathed in, enters a cut in the skin, or is ingested.
British Veterinary Association President Robin Hargreaves said: 'A cluster of cases such as this is very rare but the public health risk to owners and veterinary staff is of concern.
'TB can affect different parts of the body which is why symptoms have varied significantly in confirmed cases.
'Your veterinary surgeon is best placed to assess the likelihood of TB being responsible for your cat’s illness. If you are concerned that your cat is unwell or has unusual lesions please consult your vet as soon as possible.
'Vets dealing with cats, particularly those in areas where TB is endemic, should consider the diagnosis if presented with animals exhibiting the signs described in the paper and in the information provided by Defra.'
Defra's Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibbens, added: 'This unusual case illustrates why it is important that private vets remain vigilant to possible signs of TB in cats.
'In the event of a positive case, owners need to be fully informed of the risks to human health when deciding whether treatment is an appropriate course.'
TB is a bacterial infection that is usually spread through inhaling tiny droplets form the coughs or sneezes of an infected person.
It can be serious but can also be cured with proper treatment.
It causes symptoms including a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, fever, tiredness and loss of appetite.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2590699/Two-British-people-contract-tuberculosis-contact-cat-recorded-cases-cat-human-transmission.html#ixzz2xCSLdgZe